Interchange System

ABSTRACT

An interchange system for transition between crossing roadways, the interchange system comprising: two or more traffic circles, each of the traffic circles being disposed in a different level, at least one of the crossing roadways being connected to at least two of the traffic circles and allowing vehicles from the one roadway to enter to each of the two traffic circles. The inner space of the traffic circles may be used as a building, a gas station, parking years, for landscape, and so forth. The interchange may further comprise one or more transition roadways for interconnecting between some or all of the traffic circles. A transition roadway may be inner to the traffic circles it connects or outer to the traffic circles it connects.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of traffic. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to an interchange constructed oftraffic circles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In order to facilitate the reading of the description to follow, anumber of terms employed in the art are defined below:

-   -   Intersection—a place where two or more roadways intersect.    -   Interchange—a road junction designed so that streams of traffic        do not intersect.    -   Traffic circle or rotary—a road junction at which traffic moves        in one direction around a central traffic island.

Nowadays the use of traffic circles is very common, and therefore inmany countries it is anchored in the traffic laws. One of the most wellknown traffic circles is that which surrounds the Arc de Triumph inParis.

BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS OF THE PRIOR ART

The traffic rules in a traffic circle are simple and clear. Usually theycomprise at least the following articles: The traffic direction iscarried out in one-way, and the vehicles that are already inside thetraffic circle have priority on vehicles that intend to enter into therotary. Of course there are variations to the traffic rules regardingthe traffic circle, however the above mentioned rules sustain in manycountries.

From the traffic point of view, the traffic circle has severaladvantages when compared to crossed intersections:

Less inhibitory: While the entrance in an intersection is carried outfrom one or maximum two lanes, in traffic circle the entrance can becarried out from all the lanes. The same is true for the exit—while theexit from an intersection is carried out from one or maximum two lanes,in a traffic circle the exit can be carried out from all lanes. Hence,the traffic in a traffic circle is less inhibitory than a crossedintersection.

Smaller viewing field: While in a crossed intersection a wide viewingfield is essential (so that a vehicle approaching the intersection cansee the crossing traffic in order to prevent an accident), the requiredviewing field in a traffic circle is much smaller.

No need for traffic lights: Since the traffic rules in a traffic circleare simple and clear, there is usually no need for traffic lights forregulating the traffic. The result is fewer expenses when using atraffic circle instead of an intersection coupled with traffic lights.

Safety: From the safety point of view, the number of accidents has beendecreased tremendously in the majority of the junctions wherein theintersection has been replaced with a traffic circle.

Esthetical: Since the traffic lane of a rotary is annular, the center ofa rotary may be used for esthetical purposes, such as a small flowerbedor a statue. Moreover, the absence of traffic lights contributes to thelandscape.

However, the rotary has a major drawback:

Blocking: When the traffic load in a traffic circle passes beyond acertain point, the vehicles that move inside the rotary are blocking thevehicles that want to enter the rotary, and the result is a traffic jam.Therefore, the use of traffic circle in loaded roads and highways is notcommon.

An Intersection vs. an Interchange

Intersections usually are an obstacle to traffic. Incoming vehicles mayhave to slow down or even stop before passing through an intersection.

With an intersection, the driver has to actually cross through anopposing stream of traffic, thereby resulting in a need for the opposingstream of traffic to slow down and stop.

One way to eliminate these problems is the use of an interchange. Byusing an interchange instead of a crossed intersection, two benefits aregained: the road crossing is eliminated, since crossing an opposingstream of traffic is carried out by moving above or under the lane, andthe passing vehicles do not have to stop. Hence, the traffic in aninterchange is continuous, contrary to a crossed intersection where thetraffic is intermittent.

However, the interchange is less comprehensive to the human mind than acrossed intersection, since sometimes turning left requires using theright lane, and vice versa. Hence, a driver passing through aninterchange must depend on the road signs more than on his own senses.Moreover, usually a driver has to decide which lane to choose hundredmeters before reaching the interchange, when he can't see the directionof the lane he wants to select. In a traffic circle the driver selectsthe lane after reaching the rotary, and if he can't make up his mind, hecan move in the rotary while considering the options. From the rotary hecan see where the lane he wants to select leads.

THE OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Due to the fact that in a traffic circle, when the traffic load passesbeyond a certain point, vehicles that move inside the rotary areblocking the vehicles that want to enter the rotary, the use of trafficcircles in loaded roads and highways was never common.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide aninterchange system which is based on traffic circles.

It is another object of the invention to provide an interchange systembased on traffic circles that is suitable for use in loaded roadways andhighways.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an interchange systembased on traffic circles, wherein the required time for passing throughthe interchange system is less then the required time for passing atraffic circle.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an interchangesystem, wherein the area inside the rotary can be used for a building,gas station, park yard, landscape, and so forth.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe description proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An interchange system for transition between crossing roadways, theinterchange system comprising: two or more traffic circles, each ofwhich of the traffic circles being disposed in a different level, atleast one of the crossing roadways being connected to at least two ofthe traffic circles and allowing vehicles from the one roadway to enterto each of the two traffic circles. The interchange system may furthercomprise transition roadways, for interconnecting between two or more ofsaid traffic circles. The transition roadways may be inner or outer tothe traffic circles. The inner space of the traffic circles may be usedas a building, a gas station, parking years, for landscape, and soforth. The interchange may further comprise one or more transitionroadways for interconnecting between some or all of the traffic circles.A transition roadway may be inner to the traffic circles it connects orouter to the traffic circles it connects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other characteristics and advantages of the invention willbe better understood through the following illustrative andnon-limitative detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof,with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a top view and a side view of aninterchange system constructed of two traffic circles, each one in adifferent level, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a perspective view of an interchangesystem constructed of two traffic circles, each one in a differentlevel, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a perspective view of an interchangesystem constructed of three traffic circles, each one in a differentlevel, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a perspective view of an interchangesystem wherein the inner side comprises a building, according to apreferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The major problem of a traffic circle is that beyond a certain point oftraffic load, vehicles entering the rotary are blocked by the vehiclesthat already moving inside the rotary. Hence, adding lanes to a trafficcircle doesn't necessarily solve the problem.

The present invention deals with the above-mentioned problem by themeans of an interchange system that consists of multiple traffic circlesconstructed in different levels. This way, the capacity of the vehiclesthat can pass through this interchange significantly increases, andhence the traffic load significantly decreases.

The inner space of the construction can be used for a building, such asa mall, cinema, gas station, parking yard, landscaping, etc. Thisfeature is very significant since in some areas the value of the soilcan be very expensive.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a top view and a side view of aninterchange system constructed of two traffic circles, each one in adifferent level, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

The lower rotary 11 surrounds the upper rotary 12. In the middle ofrotary 11 there is a construction 15, such as a mall. The construction15 is used also as a base for the upper lane 12. In the middle of theupper rotary 12, i.e. above the mall, there is a garden 13.

The entrance to the interchange is carried out from lanes 21, 22, 23,24, 25, 26, 27 and 28. The exit from the interchange is carried out fromlanes 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a perspective view of an interchangesystem constructed of two traffic circles, each one in a differentlevel, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Theentrance to and the exit from the lower rotary 40 is carried out fromlanes 41 and 42. The entrance to and the exit from the upper rotary 50is carried out from lanes 51, 52 and 53. The radius of the lower rotary40 and the upper rotary 50 are about the same.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a perspective view of an interchangesystem constructed of three traffic circles, each one in a differentlevel, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The levelsare the underground rotary 60, the ground level rotary 61, and theaboveground rotary 62. The illustration demonstrates also that themiddle lanes 73 and 74 connect to the upper rotary 62, while the outerlanes 71 and 76 connect to the lower rotary. The arrows demonstrate thetraffic direction. The entrance/exit to rotary 60 is carried out fromlanes 71 and 76 respectively. The entrance/exit to rotary 61 is carriedout from lanes 72 and 75 respectively. The entrance/exit to rotary 62 iscarried out from lanes 73 and 74 respectively.

It should be noted that for the sake of brevity, not all the connectedcrossing roads have been demonstrated in FIG. 3.

The geometric shape of a traffic circle does not necessarily have to bea circle, but any annular shape. Also, the planes of the traffic circlesdo not necessarily have to be parallel to each other or parallel to theground.

In FIG. 1, the radius of the ground level rotary is bigger than theradius of the upper level rotary. Hence, the space 15 inside therotaries 11 and 12 may be used for a practical purpose, such as a gasstation, mall, etc.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the inner side of theinterchange system may be used for a spiral lane where vehicles can movefrom one level to another. This way some levels of the construction canbe used as parking yards. After leaving the parking yard, a vehicle canreach a traffic circle by moving along the spiral lane. This feature isvery essential, since any commercial place requires parking space.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the spiral is outer tothe traffic circle(s).

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a perspective view of an interchangesystem wherein the inner side comprises a building, according to apreferred embodiment of the invention. The building 80 is placed in theinner side of the construction.

It should be noted that for the sake of brevity, not all the connectedcrossing roads have been demonstrated in FIG. 4.

The above examples and description have of course been provided only forthe purpose of illustration, and are not intended to limit the inventionin any way. As will be appreciated by the skilled person, the inventioncan be carried out in a great variety of ways, employing more than onetechnique from those described above, all without exceeding the scope ofthe invention.

1. An interchange system for transition between crossing roadways, saidinterchange system comprising: two or more traffic circles, each of saidtraffic circles being disposed in a different level, at least one ofsaid crossing roadways being connected to at least two of said trafficcircles and allowing vehicles from said one roadway to enter to each ofsaid two or more traffic circles.
 2. An interchange system according toclaim 1, wherein each of said traffic circles is disposed at a positionselected from a group consisting of: the ground level, under the groundlevel, above the ground level.
 3. An interchange system according toclaim 1, wherein two or more of said traffic circles are about the samedimensions.
 4. An interchange system according to claim 1, wherein oneof said traffic circles surrounds at least one of the rest of saidtraffic circles.
 5. An interchange system according to claim 1, whereinthe inner of two adjacent traffic circles of said traffic circles isdisposed in a higher level then the other.
 6. An interchange systemaccording to claim 1, wherein at least one of said traffic circles isdisposed in a lower level then an adjacent traffic circle to saidtraffic circle.
 7. An interchange system according to claim 1, whereinat least one of said traffic circles is disposed in a higher level thenan adjacent traffic circle to said traffic circle.
 8. (canceled) 9.(canceled)
 10. (canceled)
 11. An interchange system according to claim1, wherein the inner space of said traffic circles is used for abuilding.
 12. An interchange system according to claim 11, wherein saidbuilding is used for a purpose selected from a group comprising: apublic purpose, a private purpose, a practical purpose, a mall, acinema, a gas station, and a parking yard.